Sub Rosa

Chapter 23 – Defending her Turf

Monday morning was not a pleasant rising for Kathryn, her leg was throbbing in agony from the amount of walking she had done yesterday. The only good thing was the disheveled man in her bed. He was both interested and ready and she needed to feel human again. They had no time to linger over either lovemaking or breakfast before they were due in class, but both were in considerably better moods by the time they left her rooms.

She had downed a pain potion this morning, but still forced herself to walk slowly and carefully. Just because she felt no pain, didn’t mean she wasn’t still capable of doing herself damage.

Her classes were interesting and she included extra material ow tow to deal with Fey, both the Seelie and Unseelie kind. It suddenly seemed to have added relevance to her. She assigned homework to all her classes to unearth old legends and tales of the Fey and write them up for Friday’s class.

Her sixth year Gryffindor/Slytherin class after lunch was the most amusing. Her group of explorers was very attentive to the information, while everyone else looked rather puzzled by their extreme interest and the rather pointed questions they asked.

October was passing quickly and Severus was called more often in the evenings, it left him angry and bitter most nights and all she could do was provide a place of refuge for him. Sometimes all he needed was an ear to pour out his troubles to or silent company while he brooded, other times he came to her with a very different need. They were friends first and lovers second and that suited them both quite well. They were neither of them able to give more than that when so much was being asked of them elsewhere.

Kathryn crawled across the floor studying patterns and scrawling equations every moment she had free and found that that and being there for Severus took up her few spare moments. Between teaching her regular classes, giving Minuet and Harry their extra instruction, grading papers and providing time for the students, Kathryn was running the ragged edge of pain and exhaustion most of the time. Severus was a spot of peace in all of it. Despite his pain, he was easy to talk to and a good companion. The nights he was gone to do Voldemort’s bidding were nerve-wracking and lonely for her.

Narcissa was silent for the rest of the month and Kathryn hoped that whatever Draco had reported back had put Narcissa at ease. She knew, from a small charm she kept about her person, that a “Historia Concubitus” charm had been cast at her some time after she returned from the Cavern, so it was likely someone had checked to be sure she had slept with Severus. She wondered if Draco had cast it, or whether it was someone else.

The Halloween Ball was nearing and the staff had decided that the Interhouse Unity project would commence the morning after it. There was to be a series of puzzles, games and scavenger hunts, all designed to force the multi-h gro groups to work together. Not being a head of house, Kathryn was amused by Severus’ grumbling, rather than joiniim iim in it.

In the meantime, she had Hermione researching the information given by the Faerie Guardian in the library, while she contemplated what she knew about elementals. The rill was not on Kathryn’s map and she wasn’t sure how to find it.

A trip to Grand-mére’s library with her mini explorer corps was probably in order. Not that it was a place that Hermione, at least, would hate or anything. In fact, Kathryn guessed that should the Gryffindor ever set foot in that library she would have to be surgically removed, because she would never willingly leave.

As she chuckled, contemplating the image of Hermione Granger being dragged bodily from the tall wooden stacks, there was a knock on her door.

Draco Malfoy stood quietly reflected in her mirror.

“Enter, Mr. Malfoy.” She called and watched his image jump as she identified him correctly. He stepped in and his eyes roamed the room in a lightning fast appraisal.

“Professor.” He nodded to her regally, every inch the young prince, and Kathryn knew from his pose that he was uncomfortable.

“How may I help you, Mr. Malfoy?” She asked, leaning back in her chair, deliberately giving the impression of someone very much at her ease. She steepled her fingers before her and contemplated him.

“Professor Snape has been tutoring me in Potions for years.” Kathryn listened patiently to this apparent non-sequitor. He would get around the actual point when he was ready. “I have known him since I was a small child, I used to follow him about when he came to visit my father.” Kathryn watched Draco as he paced the room, nervously fingering knick-knacks, running his hands over her book spines and swishing his robes with unnecessary force as he moved.

“Severus has mentioned the …closeness of your families.” She made the pause deliberate, letting her tiny silence speak to the boy, with greater impact than any words would have been.

“He has always been someone my father values.” Kathryn nodded, understanding the layers of meaning there. “My mother has always valued beauty over utility.” Draco was holding a small vase from Kathryn’s Grandmother Olivia, it was perfectly beautiful, but very simple, no ornamentation, no frills, the beauty was in the shape which was a pleasing curve. Kathryn noted Draco’s careful handling of the piece.

“Severus’s beauty is not obvious, but if you look beyond the surface it is there.” Kathryn replied, a glimmer of understanding coming to her. Where Lucius would never harm Severus because hs fas far too useful, Narcissa thought him ugly and would therefore not care for his importance.

“My mother is not interested in what lies beneath the surface, Professor.” Draco had such sorrow in his eyes that Kathryn wanted nothing more than to wrap the boy up in her arms and soothe him. But he was a Malfoy, as well as a sixteen-year-old boy, it would not do to show him such compassion, it would be inappropriate and he would only be embarrassed by it.

“Then tell your mother to think carefully before she discards a seedling she did not plant.” Draco looked at her sharply, for they both knew that Voldemort would be sweet and indulgent to Narcissa only for as long as she was obedient and useful. “Remind her also that I come from a large family.”

Draco smiled and Kathryn knew that he had come here to hear only that one thing. He wanted an assurance that Kathryn would stand by his Potions Master if it came down to it.

“You like him.” It was not a question, though Draco was too well trained to make it sound like a demand.

“Very much.” She replied and he bowed himself out of the room. Kathryn would have to speak to Narcissa at some point. No, too direct. Grandmother Olivia was the better person, a discreet visit, some tea, a gentle warning, yes much better.

Kathryn smiled and at that moment even Minerva would have had to admit that she looked very Slytherin.

An owled letter later, Kathryn was contemplating making the trip to New Orleans sooner rather than later. It was Friday, the Ball was next weekend and Midwinter wasn’t so far away that she felt comfortable with her continued ignorance. Grand-mére’s library contained things that even Lucius Malfoy wasn’t aware existed.

Yet, Voldemort would certainly call Severus, either tonight or tomorrow, and the thought of leaving him here alone was…unpalatable. Damn, emotions always complicated things and her emotions were becoming somewhat confused where Severus was concerned. She had only known him for a short while, but it was increasingly obvious to her that he was quickly becoming a very important factor in all her planning.

She needed to go and see Grand-mére for more than one reason. Grandmother Olivia might be the queen of cutthroat etiquette, but Grand-mére Marie was Voodoun Queen of New Orleans for a reason.

Her mind wandered back to Miss Granger and a thought occurred to her, one that made her very happy. She darted back to the Owlery with a smirk that would have done a Malfoy proud.